Gonzaga Bulldogs learn their NCAA Tournament draw

The Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball program is once again dancing in March.

The full bracket for the 68-team NCAA Tournament was unveiled Sunday afternoon, and the Zags found out they’re traveling to Wichita, Kan., as they embark on their 26th straight tournament appearance. Gonzaga was awarded the No. 8 seed and a clash of Bulldogs as it squares off with ninth-seeded Georgia on Thursday in the Midwest Region, which is headlined by top-seeded Houston.

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Unfortunately for Gonzaga, it marks the second straight year it’s missing out on playing near home in the tournament’s first week. Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena is a host for the rounds of 64 and 32.

Here’s a look at the draw for Gonzaga and a few more details on the team. Plus, the first round matchups in Seattle:

Gonzaga Bulldogs in NCAA Tournament

• Seed: No. 8
• Region: Midwest
• Opening game: Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs, Thursday at 1:35 p.m. (Wichita)
• Records: Gonzaga 25-8; Georgia 20-12

• What to know: It was a down year by Gonzaga’s standards, as the Bulldogs lost four conference games for the first time in head coach Mark Few’s 26-year tenure. The Zags fell out of the AP Top 25 in January and never returned. They entered the WCC Tournament with some doubts about their NCAA Tournament status, but they made sure they wouldn’t be sweating out on selection day by upending top-seeded Saint Mary’s in the title game.

Gonzaga features a balanced attack with five players averaging double figures. Big man Graham Ike leads the way with 17.1 points and 7.5 rebounds (both team highs) per game, while point guard Ryan Nembhard is averaging nearly a double-double with 10.8 points and 9.8 assists. Guard Khalif Battle (13.2 points and 3.5 rebounds), guard Nolan Hickman (11.0 points and 2.3 assists) and forward Braden Huff (10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds) round out the Bulldogs’ double-figure scorers.

Georgia is one of a tournament-record 14 teams in the dance out of the powerhouse SEC. Georgia finished tied for ninth in the league at 8-10 and lost its only conference tournament game, but it also holds four wins over top-25 opponents, including one over West Region No. 1 seed Florida. Forward Asa Newell averages 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds and guard Silas Demary Jr. adds 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists to lead Georgia.

NCAA Tournament games at Climate Pledge Arena

• No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Liberty, Friday at 7:10 p.m. (East Region)
• No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron, Friday at 4:35 p.m. (East Region)
• No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State, Friday at 11 a.m. (West Region)
• No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon, Friday at 1:35 p.m. (West Region)

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